Automobile service indicator



Nov. 29, 1927. 1,651,033

c. R. MCCLELLAN ET Al.

AUTOMOBLE SERVICE INDICATOR Filed Dec. 5. 1926 Patented Nov. 29, i927.

Usi-'ren Application tiled leeeznher This invention relates to a device .which is designed to be ilL stened on the dash or instrument panel of an'automobile, preferably adjacent to the speedometer, and to be u ti- -lized iter indicating the 'time at which the oil `should be renewed the car serviced.

The object off the invention is to provide aA simple, inerpensive attractive .device .which can be .easily fastened in position and conveniently set and looked by anyone, so as todirect` attention to the Jfact that when `vrthe total odometer mileage reading reaches the-numberto vwhichthe indicator set, it is time to oil or service the car.

This object is attained by enclosing a plurality. of numbered disls,` preferably arranged in two. rows with tivedisks in each row, in a case that has windows which permit the numbers to be conveniently read, the disks being connected `with 1Knobs on the ei;- terior of the case by which they may be turned7 and being polygonalin outline and engaged on their edges by a spring in such manner that when turned the numbers will register correctly with the windows in the case, and after the desired setting has been obtained may be locked to prevent the reading from being accidentally or inadvertently altered Y ln the accompanying drawings llig. 1 shows a view oit the iront tace of an indicator designed to be set to tell when the oil should be renewed and the car greased or serviced all over7 the lock in this view being pushed in so as to prevent the disks trom being moved. Fig. 2 is a view with the cover 0i' the case removed and the lock plate drawn out to a position which permits the dislrs to be turned. Fig. 3 is an edge view with a port-ion cut away to expose the interior. Fig. 4l is a transverse section on the plane indicated by the dotted line t-ll on Fig. 1.

The case of the indicator comprises a ilat, oblong base plate 1 and a cover 2 having similar outline. These parts may be stamped to shape from sheet metal, the base having holes 3 for the rear ends ot the disk studs li and the cover havingholes that lit the shoulders 6 at the inner ends ot the knobs T termed on the outer ends of the studs to which the disks 8 are fastened. 'lhe covers are also provided with windows 9. The base plate and cover are shown as iastened together at each end by ineans tabular rivets antonio rivets.

There 'two rewsol? dq in each row, each o n f with digits arranged consec .e t' to vO inposition to be read tlir.sugliv (lows in the cover. Each disk has on its @des and Securely est headed sind that rotatably leid in resi tion by the holes in the base plate and cover.

Extending between the rows oit disks i rd engaging thr edges are the arnjis o'. a. lle shaped rsp l1. This sp Y around one or the rivets 10 u; l e the coverv and base and it is retained in place by Contact with the edges ot the disks and by the base and cover. The spring arms engage the flats on the edges of the disks of each row and when the disks are turned the spring arms yield and then snap back against the iiats and hold the disks from accidentally turning out of the positions to which they are set, and also insure an accurate registering ot the numbers in the Windows in the cover.

A plate 12 is arranged to slide through the cover and under the adjacent edges of the rows of disks and the spring arms. This plate has lugs 13 which project up between the spring arms. 1When the plate is drawn out as illustrated in Fig. 2 the lugs stand or project between the spring arms on each side of the centers of the disks so that the intermediate sections of the spring arms may yield and allow the disks to turn. When the lock plate is pushed in, as shown in Fig. 1, the lugs extend between the spring arms opposite the centers ot the disks and thus yprevent the spring arms from yielding and allowing the disks to turn. The lugs are desirably struck up vfrom portions of the lock plate, and the plate is guided by the spring arms and is stopped at each limit of its movement by the slot 14 through which one of the fastening rivets lO extends. The outer end 15 of the plate is turned up so that it may be grasped for drawing it out and pushing it in. When pushed in this 'upturned end ot the loclr plate lies close against the cover.

This structure is very inexpensive to manufacture as the base plate, cover, lock plate and dislrs are stamped to shape and the studs bile may be pass@ with the operating knobs are simple screw machine products.

In assembling the structure the lock plate is laid on the base, the ends of the studs with the disks attached are inserted in the holes in the base, the spring is dropped upon a tubular rivet with its arms extending between the edges of the rows of disks and each side oit the lugs projecting from the lock plate, and then the cover is placed upon the base over the headed ends of the studs and fastened by the tubular rivets which provide the openings for the screws by which the device is to be fastened in place of use.

The invention claimed is 1. An automobile service indicator comprising a base, a coverl having a plurality of windows applied to the base, a plurality of studs rotatably mounted in openings in the cover and base and provided with knobs on the front of the cover, polygonal numH bered disks secured to and rotatable with said studs to expose the numbers through said windows in the cover, a leaf spring engaging the flat edges of all of said disks and retaining them in the positions to which they are turned, and a. plate with lugs en gaging the spring movable to permit said spring to yield when the disks are turned and movable to prevent the spring from yielding and thus locking the disks from turning.

2. An automobile service indicator comprising a base, a cover having two rows of windows applied to the base, two rows of studs rotatably mounted in openings in the cover and base and provided' with knobs on the liront of the cover, polygonal numbered dif-ks secured 'to and rotatable with said studs to expose the numbers through said windows in the cover, a U-shaped spring with its arms extending between the two rows of disks and having an arm engaging the iiat edges of the disks of each row, and a lock plate with lugs movable between the arms of the spring, said lugs when the plate CHARLES R. MGCLELLAN. OW'EN L. SEWARD. 

